Methane (CH4) transmission rate of plastic films and sheeting

Determination of the surface-drying characteristics of paints, varnishes, and related coating materials that dry by air action or chemical reaction, according to ISO 9117-3. The method does not apply to stoving products. The test uses ballotini glass beads applied to the coating surface to assess the surface-drying state. It can be performed in two ways: as a pass/fail test determining whether the surface-dry state has been reached after a specified time, or by repeated assessment at defined intervals to establish the surface-drying time. Results are reported as the surface-drying state at the specified time (go/no go) or as the time required to reach the surface-dry state. Measurlabs can also offer the following alternative drying tests from the ISO 9117 series: through-dry state and through-dry time (ISO 9117-1), pressure test for stackability (ISO 9117-2), mechanical recorder test (ISO 9117-4), modified Bandow-Wolff test (ISO 9117-5), and print-free test (ISO 9117-6). Please ask our experts for more information and a quote.

Determination of the oxygen transmission rate of plastic films and sheet-like materials. The test is performed on two parallel samples simultaneously. Measurement conditions (temperature and relative humidity) can be chosen according to the intended use of the material. Oxygen permeability is typically measured at 23 °C and 0% relative humidity as per standard ASTM D3985. In moist conditions, for example at 38 °C and 90% relative humidity, standard ASTM F1927 is used. Please disclose the desired temperature (from 15 °C to 50 °C) and relative humidity (either 0% or 10% to 90%) upon requesting an offer. This measurement is suitable for materials with OTR values between 0.01 and 5000 cm3/(m2 * day).

Determination of the nitrogen or helium transmission rate of plastic films and sheet-like materials with the differential pressure method. Testing is performed on three parallel samples. Measurement conditions (temperature and relative humidity) can be chosen according to the intended use of the material. Please disclose the desired temperature (from 5 °C to 95 °C) and relative humidity (either 0% or from 10% to 90%) upon ordering. Oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) transmission rates can also be determined with the manometric method upon request, but the following, more cost-efficient measurements are used more often: OTR of films and sheeting, CO2 transmission rate of films and sheeting.

The measurement determines the transmission rate of hydrogen gas (H2) through a single or multi-layered plastic film or sheeting with a pressure sensor. The measurement is performed with two parallel specimens. The testing temperature is 23°C, and the relative humidity is 0%. The price includes 1 day of testing time, and additional days can be included with a €40 daily rate. The permeability of other gases, such as chlorine gas (Cl), can also be tested using the same method. Contact us for a quote.

Determination of the properties of high-pressure decorative laminates (HPL), i.e., sheets based on thermosetting resins, according to EN 438-2. The standard specifies test methods applicable to HPL sheets as classified in EN 438-3 (standard grades), EN 438-4 (compact laminates), EN 438-5 (flooring grades), EN 438-6 (exterior grades), EN 438-8 (design laminates), and EN 438-9 (alternative core laminates). The following properties can be determined: Dimensions and geometry: thickness, flatness, length, width, edge straightness, and squareness, Surface resistance: abrasion, micro-scratch resistance, scratching, crazing, and impact by small- and large-diameter balls, Stain and chemical resistance: resistance to domestic staining agents and chemicals, Thermal and moisture resistance: resistance to dry heat, wet heat, boiling water immersion, water vapor, wet conditions, and climatic shock, Light and UV resistance: lightfastness and resistance to artificial weathering and UV light, Formability: assessment of postformability characteristics, Dimensional stability at elevated temperature. Tests can be performed as pass/fail assessments against specified requirements or to generate quantitative performance data for product classification and comparison. Please specify the properties to be tested when requesting a quote.

X-Ray Reflectometry (XRR) analysis is used to measure the density (g/cm3), thickness (nm), and roughness (nm) of thin films. The method is applicable to the characterization of single- or multilayered thin films, as it provides information on the thickness and density of individual layers of the sample material as well as the roughness of the interphases. Greatest accuracy for XRR thickness measurements is generally achieved for samples containing 1-150 nm thick surface layers with under 5 nm RMS roughness. Thicker films and coatings with rougher surfaces can also be characterized, but the accuracy of thickness determination decreases as the thickness and roughness of the film or film stack increase. >150 mm wafers are typically cut to fit the sample holder. Please let us know if you need testing for larger wafers that cannot be cut into pieces. The available temperature range for XRR measurements is 25-1100 °C, and crystallinity can be studied as a function of temperature. The measurements can be performed under a normal atmosphere, inert gas, or vacuum. Measurements are typically performed using one of the following instruments: Rigaku SmartLab, Panalytical X'Pert Pro MRD, Bruker D8 Discover. Please let us know if you have a preference for a specific instrument.

This test is designed to measure the oxygen transmission rate of finished packages, including cups, bottles, trays, and containers. Two replica measurements are included in the displayed price. Temperature can be adjusted from 15 to 55 °C, and relative humidity can be either 0% or between 5 and 90% RH. This test is not suitable for films. Please see the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of films and sheeting if you need testing for film samples. Please specify the sample dimensions and testing conditions upon ordering.

The molar mass distribution of biomass samples soluble in pure water or organic solvents (DMF, DMSO, and THF) is measured using size exclusion chromatography with a refractive index detector (SEC-RID). The system is calibrated with polystyrene and dextran standards. A Pullulan standard is also available upon request. In the case of lignin samples, molar mass distribution is analyzed using SEC coupled with an ultraviolet detector at 256 nm wavelength. The lignin is dissolved in a suitable solvent before analysis, and the SEC system is calibrated with a polystyrene sulfonate standard. A borate buffer is used to set the pH for the eluent. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and number-average molecular weight (Mn) are reported. For absolute molecular weight, a GPC system coupled with a multi-angle light scattering (MALS) detector can be used. The mobile phase for this system is THF. An additional cost applies to this method.

Determination of the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of ultra-high barrier materials. The method can also be used to test moderate barrier materials at high-temperature conditions. Please disclose the desired temperature (from 10 to 85 °C) and the desired relative humidity (from 60% to 100%) when placing the order. This measurement is applicable for films and sheeting materials with WVTR values between 1x10-6 and 10 g/m2/day. If you wish to test finished packaging instead, check out the WVTR measurement for packages. The price of the test consists of a flat rate cost per sample plus one day measurement time. Please contact our experts for an offer.

The ISO 4589-2 oxygen index test is used to evaluate the fire behavior of certain railway materials according to the EN 45545-2 standard. It is required to meet requirements R22, R23, and R24, which apply to products such as insulators, seals, pipes, and hoses. The oxygen index (OI) is the minimum volume-based percentage of oxygen in an oxygen-nitrogen mixture required to support the combustion of the sample under specified conditions. For a material to meet EN 45545-2 requirements, the OI must be at least 28% (hazard classes HL1 and HL2) or at least 32% (HL3). Testing is performed on 20 replicate samples, with the required specimen size depending on the material: 80−150 mm x 10 mm x 4 mm for mould-made materials, such as plastics, 80−150 mm x 10 mm x 10 mm for porous materials, such as foams, 140 mm x 52 mm x d, where d < 10.5 mm, for flexible films, sheets, and fabrics.